The sobriquet Most Faithful King (Rex Fidelissimus) was a title awarded by the Pope as spiritual head of the Catholic Church to a to Portuguese monarchy.
The title remains attached to monarchs descended from whoever received the original sobriquet. The sobriquet can be awarded to either a king or a queen.
The only European monarchy that has received the sobriquet Fidelissimus was the now-defunct monarchy of Portugal. King John V of Portugal was favoured with the title of Rex Fidelissimus in 1748 by Pope Benedict XIV.
Famous quotes containing the words faithful and/or majesty:
“Better dressed and stacking birch,
or lost with the Faithful at Church—
anywhere, but somewhere else!”
—Robert Lowell (1917–1977)
“I don’t wish to give offense when I suggest that this country should select a king, or even a queen, rather than a president. One isn’t that quick to shoot a king or a queen—the majesty of royalty, you see.”
—David Webb Peoples, screenwriter. English Bob (Richard Harris)